Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-12-16
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
SOME OF THE PRESS COMMENTS ON
THE DOCUMENT.

words which marked his first an
nual message; and altogether is "a
well.managed argument in support
of bis views of the public question
treated in it.
(Richmond Wing, Dem.l
We had hoped that he wOuld at
least recommend the repeal of the
tobacco tax, which, nOtwithstand-
ing what the president says, Is felt
to be a grevious burden upon one
of the leading agricultural produc-
tons OF the country.
[Lynchburg Yirgnian, Dem.l
The people of Virginia will re-
greet that the President saw fit to
practically give his sanction to a
continuance Of the internal revenue
system on the palpably mistaken
theory that its operation is not OPP
pressive, aud that there is nothing
so we'll able to bear the burden of
taxation without hardship as the
articles embraced under it. TO say
the least, this shows that the Presi-
dent knows nothing about the eff
feet Of the tobacco tax upon the
prOddcer, and to that extent was
treading on unfamiliar ground.
alexandria Gazette, Dem
The Presidents message is
strong and earnest appeal to the
representatives of the people to re-
peal or reduce the tariff on the
prime necessaries of life and on the
raw material Of manufacturers.
Richmond State. Dem.
The Presidents message IS in
full accord with the spirit OF the
age. 1t treats of questions de-
handing immediate attention, and
spares neither time nor space for
subjects that can be considered
atterward.
Norfolk Landmark, Dem.
The annual message of the pres.
ident to congress, IN full synopsis
is given in another column. 1t is
a PLAIN, direct and able paper, brief
and definite. There are no fine
phrases, no obscure distinctions,
nor any foreign or irrelevant mat.
ter IN it. 1t is clear and logical
business statement Of the most I'M
pOrtant and serious subject which
will or can engage the attention of
the national Legislature at this ses-
sion, in the discharge of its respon-
sibllity to the people.
Norfolk Vrginian, DEM.
The decision of the questions he
forces upon the attention of con-
gress will turn the balance in the
election of 1888. The Issue is thus
clearly made up, and it remains to
be seen whether the republican
party Will not seek to avoid the re-
buke Of the people by retreating
from the ground they have hereto.
fore occupied.
Lynchburg News, DEM
It would be difficult to conceive
of much more immOderate advo-
cacy of the doctrine Of free trade
pure and simple than that employed
by Mr.. Cleveland in his theorizing
on tariff taxation. Certainly moth
ing was ever written by Golden, or
Adam Smith, or Henry George or
any other of the rank free trade
theorists that is less in accord with
the ideas of those who take a prac-
tical, business view of this ecOnom-
ic question. The most alarming
feature Of the message is the i'm
plicit advocacy of retention OF the
internal revenue, which, ever since
the time of Blackstone, has been
pronounced war system of taxa.
ton, and which the last democratic
platform adopted at Chicago de.
nounced as such and severely ar
raigned the opposition Tor failure
to repeal the system.
Baltimore American, Rep
The president is very careful TO
repudlate the idea that free trade
is even entertained by him or his
party, but experience teaches that
a drift in that direction may lead
to the Golden policy by insiduous
degrees.
The president evidently bases his
political hopes for the future on
tariff reduction, and the whole cam.
palgn has, as tar as a message can
do so, been precipitated on that
pOrtentOus line.
Washington Post, Dem.
The events of the last four years,
including the abortive efforts of
1884 and 1886 to rcyise the tariff
laws, the increased accumulation of
surplus, consequent upon the re-
demptlOn of all the matured bonds,
the fears of financial disaster re-
suting from such accumulation and
the prevalence of grea. popular in
terest in questions Of national rev.
enue, have paved the way for such
departure from Oil methods as
the president deter mined upon
when lie decided to hold this one
paramount duty up before con.
gress, unobScured by discussion of
other matters.
National Republ lean, Rep.J
The message is an open declara.
ton of war upon the American pro.
tective system. twas intended as
such. The republicans gladly ac-
cept the gage of battle. The dem
Ocrats cannot deny the policy which
their president lays down and palter
with double meaning words. Pres
ident Cleveland at least has the
courage OF his convictions, and
however bad his policy m ay be, is
entitled to credit for openly avow
ing his adherence to the English
policy and English interests.
The message is surprise, and is
the strongest possible evidence that
Grover Cleveland is a candida to fol
the presidency in 1888, depeI ldine
upon the solid south and tn, i'm
porters and bondholders of the city
of New York for reelection.